Same-Sex Parents Spend Significantly More Time With Their Children, New Study Says

A new study shows that in families headed by same-sex parents children receive much more personal attention.

A University of Texas study finds that same-sex parents spend far more time investing in their children than do their different-sex parenting peers. The study of American families by the Population Research Center at UT finds that in families headed by two mothers, the difference is most significant, with the parents spending, on average, 40 percent more time with their children.

“Our findings support the argument that parental investment in children is at least as great – and possibly greater – in same-sex couples as for different-sex couples,” study author Kate Prickett says.

“Our study suggests that … children with two-parents-of-the-same-sex families received more focused time from their parents – 3.5 hours a day, compared with 2.5 hours by children with different-sex parents,” Dr. Prickett notes.

The type of time spent was also analyzed. Activities where the child or children were playing alone while the parents did household chores was not counted, nor was time spent watching TV – all considered passive activities. But active time, “time spent with with children while engaged in activities that supported physical and cognitive development,” the Independent reports, “such as reading, playing, helping with homework, bath time, and doctor’s appointments were included.” 

The study was based on U.S. Census Bureau data from more than 40,000 parents.

 

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